Device for treating materials



Feb 17, 1959 L. A. oHLlNGER ETAL 2,874,107

DEVICE Foa v TREATING MATERxALs 6 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Filed May 8, 1946 .dmHrL Feb. 17, 1959 L.'A. oHLlNGl-:R ET A1.

DEVICEv FOR TREATING MATERIALS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May I8, 1946 Zdzzzesses: I

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DEVICE FOR TREATING MATERIALS Filed May 8, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIEE.

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` DEVICE FOR TREATING MATERIALS Filed May a, 194e .Y Y 6 sheets-sheet 5 PIE-.12..

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Filed May 8, 1946 L.. A. OHLINGER ET AL DEVICE FOR TREATING MATERIALS Mzesses.-

A MKM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 permit both a sectional ejectorrod 38 and a sectional scoop handle 39 to extend therethrough in slidable relation to the plug 2 9. Rod 38 and handle 39 project through the outer wall of the coffin shield in uid relation thereto by means of a compound stuflng box 49 (Fig. ll) which also accommodates a rod handle 40 inlike manner for movement of the plug 29 within the coin shield 20 from a poin't exterior thereof. A scoop 44 (Figs. 2 and 3) isprovided at the interior end of: scoop handle 39 and comprises an upstanding back in .the form of a generally cylindrical portion 45 to which rod 39 is attached, a semicylindrical tongue Vportion 46, and a serrated latch 47 having oneV end extending through a chamber 48 of cylindrical portion 45 and provided with a curved end to prevent extraction,` said chamber being generally divergent towards the serrated portion of the latch to allow vertical-pivotal movement ofthe latch. A f

A boat 50 (Figs. 2 and 4) that may be of aluminum comprises a closed end semicylindrical portion 51, one end plate having a raised portion 52, and an extending end cap 53 in the form of a truncated cone. `Boat 50 provides a container for conveying specimens to be irradiated in and out of the thimble 22. The end cap 53 is engaged by the latch 47 for movement of the' boat 50 into and from the thimble 22. The method of loading and unloading the individual boats from the device will be later described.

Referring to Fig. 6, a carrier 57 is slidably mounted on a pair of guide rails 58 for movement transversely of the coffin shield 20, said movement lbeing manually eifected from points exteriorly of the coffin-shield 20 v 4 position as shown in Fig. 8 by means of lever 67 and locked in place by a suitable latch 72. The device is now in readiness for irradiation of the specimens.

After the loading operation has been completed and the breech-block 66 is in position the atmospheric air within the enclosed portion of the device including the con shield and the thimble 22 is replaced with a gas having a low neutron absorbing characteristic such as helium gas. A pair of fluid conducting tubes 80extend through the'bottom wall of the coin shield 20 and into the thimble 22 for the introduction of neutronically inert uid, such as helium, 'terminating adjacent the closed end thereof, and outlet tube 81 with a suitable valve, not shown, is provided for drawing off the air while tilling the system with helium, and for drawing out the helium at the termination of the irradiation period prior to unloading the device. As shown in the drawings,

` gaskets or'other suitable seals are employed marginally by means of slidably mounted plungers 59 and-60,

plunger 59 being mounted in uidl sealing relation to the coin shield by means of a stung box 61 to vp revent escape of helium or other gas with which the air fm'the -device may be replaced during irradiationy periodsfor Y the purpose of reducing neutronic absorption within the reactor 19 to eliminate thepersonnel hazard of escaped irradiated gas. A specimen coin 63 is detachablyA positioned by means of angular guide brackets -64 on the coin shield 20 fin registry with a specimen -transfer aperture 68, the llower wall of coin 63 restingv onv'a L'supporting plate 65 (Fig.'7). Con 63 includes acover 62 receivablein a complementary channel to complete a biological shielded container yfor transfer of irradiated specimens. Plunger extends'through the endrwall of coin 63 in slidablev relation therewith to permit an operator to move carrier 57 out of the specimen c ofln 63'and intothe con shield 20. v j il Prior to loading the device, with the neutronic reactor shut down, a ybreech-lock closure 66, shown clampedin place by means of lever 67 in`Fig. 8, is removed by pivoting the lever 67 downwardly into a position of n oninterference withthe specimen transfer aperture 68, best shown in Fig. 7. `vIf radioactive specimens are to be loaded, the coffin 63 Vcontaining the specimensis attached to the cotiin shield -20 in the manner above'described, the cover 62 raised, yand the carrier 57 and sampleboat 50'moved by means of plunger 60 from within the specimen coin 63` to a position along' guideY rails'j58 jfor registry'with thimble 2.2 as shown in`Fig.'6. j

With boat 50 supported on carrier 57 in registry with thimble 22,*handle 39v is moved'in a direction toward the reactor 19, thereby sliding boat 50 across a trough portion 69 `of an adjacent shield block? 70' and .'into thimble 22 to a desired position therein. Rod 39 is made up of demountable sections Ysince, the @total external length is substantial when in `the` fully retracted position.V Additional specimenboatsf50mayfbe' loaded in like manner until, the desiredA loading is obtained., Upon completion of loading,v` plug 29 isf-moved from the ezttracted position shown in Fig. 2 to the operative position as shown 1n la by movement of handle 40 toward the reactor '19. Breechblock closure 66 is pvl QQ of all apertures extending through the cot`n shield walls and around the mounting ange to effectively seal the interior of the device-against the escape of the helium during use.

At theV termination of the irradiation period the device is unloadedin the following manner. Plug 29 is returned to the retracted position (Fig. 2) by retraction of handle` 40. Ejector rod 38 is likewise retracted, thus allowing latch 47 of scoop 44 to pivot downward and engage raised portion 52 of a boat 50. Y Scoop 44 having boat 50 in complementary engagement with tongue portion 46 thereof isv withdrawn from thimble 22 by means of scoopihandle 39, ejector rod 38 being simultaneously Withdrawn. vRegistration between boat 50 and transfer apertur'e68 is automatic upon full retraction of scoop handleV 39 due vto abutment lbetween the 'truncated end of the'V bo'at and the inner end 'of e'jectorrod 38 which is maintained in spaced Yrelation to the-end of shank portion 33 of plug'29 by means of a limit collar 73. Scoop 44 is withdrawn'fr'om boat 50 during this-step. At'the point of abutment mentioned, latch 47 is cammed over the end portion of rod 38. thereby disvengaging the boat 50 which rests o n an arcuate supporting surface 75 of 'carrier57. l *l Plunger 59 is provided at its inner end-with a lterminal portion 177 having an arcuate, surface' and av vshoulder adapted to engage the adjacent wallof carrier '57 in the manner shownv in Fig. 7. Inward movement of 'plunger 5 9conve'ys carrier 57 from a position of 'registryv with thimble 22fthrough the transfer aperture 68 Vand into the specimen coiiin63 to'be supported on the lower wall thereof (Fig. 8').` vPlun'ger 59 is returned to its normal position (Fig. 7) with'V a limit collar 76 abutting stung box 61. Coin cover 62 which hangs from a supporting bracket 7 8'1during each removal operation is detached and lowered into a position of closu'reas shown in Fig. 8. The coiin 63 may' then-'be withdrawny by means of a handle V79 from the channel defined by guide'rails-64 for removalfrom the device. Another Vcoffinmay then be inserted Awithin the A'guide' rail channel in the y"above described manner, the operation being repeated for removal of the'nextspecimen boat 50.* f

The alternate embodiment of the present invention as disclosed in Figs. 1:2 through 16 is generally similar to the above described embodiment with the :exception that the device incorporatesy means for the-' introduction of liquid v coolant into therthimble 122 by provision of in and outfuid conduits 83- and 84 respectively (Fig. l2). A singlefconduit180 is'disposed intermediate the coolant conduitsv for the"introductionoff helium lgas; Coffin shield andcounterweightedfplug 129-'are similar to collin shield 20 and plug 29 with the exception of minor details ars'ldescribed below. The inand out fluid conductingcqnduits Verrand "84, thmughiwhih wafer may be circulated as a'coolant, and the helium inletv conduit fronfthe mouth Aoffc'oftin yshield'120 'substantially 'to the closed end of-thimble 122 which may beof steel for the portion disposed in the biological ,and thermal shields and of graphite for the portion disposed in the reactor proper. Element 85, semi-circular in cross section, comprises an upper portion 86 provided with upwardly open channel having a planiform-base surface adapted to receive specimen boats 150 through which channel the boats may be slid axially along the thimble 122, and a lower portion 87 maintained in clamped engagement therewith by means of clamping bolts 88. Element 85 is provided with suitable bores through which the conduit tubes extend axially, in desired spaced relation therebetween and in good thermal contact therewith. Ribs 90 welded to the thimble 122 maintain the element 85 in position as shown.

Specimen boat 150 is of shallow tray form with a planiform base to promote heat conduction between the specimens therein and the cooling liquid in conduits 83 and 84 through the intervening graphite member 85. The method of loading and unloading boat 150 from the device is generally similar to the method described in the above embodiment, the carrier being eliminated to permit direct heat transfer between the specimen boat 150 and a graphite bed later described. Assuming specimens to be irradiated are to be loaded, with the reactor shut down, the specimens are unloaded from the closed specimen coflin 163 by positioning the specimen con 163 adjacent the transfer aperture 168 of the con shield 120, raising the coin cover 162 and moving the specimen boat 150 transversely of the cofn shield 120 by means of plunger 160' into a position of abutment with the inner end of plunger 159 the boat then being in position of registry with thimble 122 due to limit collar 176, properly positioned to insure registry of the boat 150. Ejector rod 138 is shown capped in Fig. 15 toprevent theescape of helium from the device during irradiation periods, cap 92 being removed during loading and unloading periods. The outer end of rod 138 is shown tapped to receive extension sections, the outer end of scoop handle 139 being externally threaded for a like purpose. Movement of ejector rod 138 `toward the reactor cams latch 147 into a position of non-engagement with latch ybracket 152 of scoop 144, the inner rod end abutting bracket 152 to force the specimen boat 150 over the half shield block 170 and along the channel of graphite bed 8S to the desired position within thimble 122. Upon completion of loading, the counterweighted plug 129 is moved by means of plug handle 140 into the shielding position with shank 133 of plug 129 disposed within thimble 122. With the removal of specimen cofn 163 and insertion of a suitable breach plug (not shown) to form a closure for transfer aperture 16S, and replacement of atmospheric air within the device with a neutronically inert gas, the device is ready for operation.

Removal of the specimen boats 150 is effected by withdrawing plug 129 to the retracted position shown in Fig. l5, and individually retracting boats 150 in the following manner. With ejector rod 138 Vin the retracted position as shown in Fig. 13, the scoop handle and ejector rod assembly is moved into the thimble 122 until latch 147 is cammed into engagement with the outer-most specimen boat 150. Upon withdrawal of the assembly, stop pin 93 abuts the end of plug 129 to prevent further withdrawaL scoop handle 139 being further withdrawn to cam latch 147 out of engagement with bracket 152 of boat 150 along the ejector rod 138 to the `position shown in Fig. l5, with stop pin 93 in the dotted position Upon removal of boat 150, to

as shown in Fig.,l3. specimen coiiin 163 as above described, the device is ready for removal of a second specimen boat.

It is apparent that the above described apparatus permits an operator to safely handle radioactive material during loading andunloading of the associated reactor. Normally the reactor is shut down during loading, but

if desired, specimen transfer may `be effected during operation of the reactor, as for example when a reactor is provided with a plurality of test holes and material is undergoing irradiation in'others. In this event, care must be taken by the operator to avoid neutrons escaping from the reactor through the specimen transfer aperture during replacement of the aperture closure with the specimen coiiin and subsequent removal of said coi-lin. Removal of helium prior to unloading and replacement of air yby helium following the loading operation may be accomplished during operation of the reactor.

Other modifications of mechanical structure for the practice of the disclosed invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art, the specific devices above described being disclosed for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation, the scope of the invention being limited only as dened by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a neutronic reactor having an active portion and a radiation shield surrounding the active portion, a device for irradiation of materials comprising an elongated chamber extending from the outer face of the shield into theY active portion and having a mouth at said outer face, a shield box having an open end sealed to the outer face of the shield and surrounding the mouth of the chamber, a removable door in a side wall of the shield box, positioning means operable from the exterior of the shield box to move specimens in the chamber between the shield box and the active portion, the positioning means comprising a rod extending through the outer end of the shield box and having a latch at the inner end thereof, and means operable from the exterior of the shield box selectively to engage and disengage specimens with and from the positioning means and comprising a second rod parallel with the rst rod and engaging the latch.

2. In combination, a device for treating material comprising an open-end chamber; a box having a closed end and an open end secured to the open end of the charnber; a boat for containing the material to be treated; a scoop for moving the boat between the chamber and the box, the scoop having an upstanding back, a latch mounted in the back and being engageable with the boat, and a tongue iitting beneath the boat during engagement thereof with the latch; a handle member secured to the scoop and extending through the closed end of the box to the exterior thereof; and a release member projecting through the closed end of the box and the back of the scoop and having an inner end capable of contacting the latch to shift the same out of engagement with the boat.

3. The combination specified in claim 2 and, further comprising a plug slidably mounted in the box for movement between a first position in which it closes the open end of said chamber and a second position in which it engages the closed end of the box and leaves open the open end of said chamber, the release member being Vengageable with the plug in its second position so as to enable the inner end of the release member to serve as a stop to limit movement of the boat toward the closed end of the box.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references 0n` following page) FOREIGN PATENTS Y Methods of Using Atomic Energy fof Military Purposes 8612390 F I `O t. 28, 1940 Under the Auspices of the U. S. Govt., 19401945, pages 233,011 Svrvfzland (om 2 1944 84, ss (194s), Supt. of Doc., Washington'zs, D. C., also page 103.

De Hoiman et al.: Phy. Rev. 72, 567-569, (1947). Seren et a1.: Phy. Rev. 72, 888-901, (1947).

Y OTHER REFERENCES 5 Smyth: A General Acconnt of the Development of 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A NEUTRONIC REATOR HAVING AN ACTIVE PORTION AND A RADIATION SHIELD SURROUNDING THE ACTIVE PROTION, A DEVICE FOR IRRADIATION OF MATERIALS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CHAMBER EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER FACE OF THE SHIELD INTO THE ACTIVE PORTION AND HAVING A MOUTH AT SAID OUTER FACE, A SHIELD BOX HAVING AN OPEN END SEALED TO THE OUTER FACE OF THE SHEILD AND SURROUNDING THE MOUTH OF THE CHAMBER,A REMOVABLE DOOR IN A SIDE WALL OF THE SHEILD BOX, POSITIONING MEANS OPERABLE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE SHEILD BOX TO MOVE SPECIMENS IN THE CHAMBER BETWEEN THE SHIELD AND THE ACTIVE PORTION, THE POSITIONING MEANS COMPRISING A ROD EXTENDING THROUGH THE OUTER END OF THE SHIELD BOX AND HAVING A LATCH AT THE OF THE SHIELD BOX SELECTIVELY TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE SPECIMENS WITH AND FROM THE POSITIONING MEANS AND COMPRISING A SECOND ROD PARALLEL WITH THE FIRST ROD AND ENGAGING THE LATCH. 